Sampling mechanism



June 3, 1969 R. w. LANGTRY ETAI- 3,447,381

SAMPLING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 6. 1966 United States Patent O Int. Cl. G01n 1/00 U.S. Cl. 73-424 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A coal sampling device where a rotatable auger inside a tubular member carries the coal samples to receiving hoppers at the opposite end of the tubular member.

This invention relates to sampling mechanisms and has particular relation to a Xsampling `assembly for use in acquiring samples of coal and lthe like.

' Coal is tested, 4for example, upon its ability to produce British thermal units of heat. Samples are taken from each individual shipment or p-arts of shipments of coal and the samples are then reduced to minute quantities capable of testing. It is important that the sample taken from the shipment be representative thereof. With large shipments of coal, for example in railroad hopper cars, the taking of samples from the upper layers of coal in each or in random cars is subject to error resulting from the possible presence of batter coal in such upper layers. Accordingly, it is one purpose of the invention to provide a sampling assembly capable of acquiring samples from various layers within a railroad hopper car or the like.

Another purpose is to provide a simplified sampling assembly of minimum weight and of maximum economy in manufacture and use.

Another purpose is to provide a sampling assembly which can be manually employed.

Another purpose is to provide a sampling mechanism capable of accomplishing a penetration of material from which samples are to be taken.

Another purpose is to provide a sampling assembly having means effec-tive to preclude clogging.

Another purpose is to provide a sampling assembly having removable hoppers.

Another purpose is to provide a sampling assembly capable of acquiring samples from different layers in a supply of material to be sampled.

Other purposes will appear from time to time during the course of .the specification and claims.

The invention yis illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation;

FIGURE 2 is atop plan View;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed view with parts broken away and on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom end View of a portion of the invention; and

FIGURE 5 is an end view of -a portion of the invention.

Like parts `are indicated by like numerals throughout the specication and drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 generally designates an elongated, hollow, tubular member. Rotatyable within the tube 1 is an anguer 2. The auger 2 has a centr-al shaft 3 and a serpentine auger blade 4 wound thereon. The shaft 3 has an end shaft portion 5 secured to its distal end by any suitable means, such as the fastener indicated Vat 6. The shaft por-tion 5 extends beyond the open distal end 1a of the tube 1. 'Ihe auger blade 4 has a pitch and curve substantially standard throughout the major length of the tube 1. A portion 4a of the blade 4,

3,447,381 Patented June 3, 1969 ICS however, which is attached to the end shaft portion 5, has a pitch substantially at-ter than that of the blade portion 4. A segment of auger blade portion 4a has an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of tube 1, as indicated at 4b. The diameter of blade portion 4a diminishes from the point 4b to its end as indicated at 4c. I-t will be observed that the blade 4, and that segment of portion 4a within the tube 1, have outer diameters `substantially equal to the inner diameter of tube 1, there being only suicient space between the peripheral edge of the -auger blade and the inner surface of the tube 1 to preclude scraping.

A plurality of axially parallel guide bars or vanes 10 are circumferentially spaced about the outer surface of tube 1 at its end 1b opposite the end 1a. The bars 10 extend beyond the opposite open end 1b of the tube 1 to support a plate 11 outwardly beyond the end 1b of tube 1. Plate 11 is thus perpendicular to the axis of tube 1 fand has a diameter substantially greater than tube 1.

Thus there is created a series of circumferentially positioned openings, each defined by a set of adjacent vanes 10, the end 1b of tube 1 and the plate 11. Supported on plate 11 is a hydraulic motor means 12 having a driving connection with auger shaft 2. It will be understood that the auger blade 4 terminates adjacent the end 1b of tube 1.

Circumferentially positioned about the end portion of tube 1 adjacent the end 1b thereof is a plurality of receiving hoppers 13. Each of the receiving hoppers 13 has a generally arcuate inner end wall 14 as shown in FIGURE 5. The wall 14 has an aperture 15 formed therein for alignment with one of the openings dened by the blades. 10, plate 11 and edge -1b of tube 1.

Side walls 16, 17 are secured to the opposite edges of inner end wall 14 of each hopper 13 and extend in diverging planes from wall 14. An outer end w-all 18 may be conveniently formed of converging portions extending from the outer edges of walls 16, 17. Each of the hopper elements has upper and bottom walls 19, 20.

Secured to the outer surface of plate 11 and circumferentially spaced thereon adjacent the periphery thereof are a plurality of latch members 21. Each of the upper Walls '19 of the hoppers A13 carries a latch pin member 22. As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, lock elements 21, 22 are positioned for engagement when the hopper 13 is in place on the tube 1 to retain the hopper 13 thereon. It will also be observed that the side walls 16, 17 of each hopper 13 are arranged for engagement with and fit snugly between a pair of adjacent bars 10. Thus the bars 10 and walls 16, 17 are radially disposed with respect to .the `axisof tube 1.

Where-as there has been shown .and described an operative form of the invention, it should be understood that this showing .and description are to be taken in an illustrative or diagrammatic sense only. There are many modications in and to the invention which will be apparent to those skilled in the art and which will fall within the scope `and spirit of Ithe invention.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

It will be understood that any suitable source of hydraulic pressure may be connected to the hydraulic motor 12 in any conventional manner. The assembly shown in FIGURE 1 is placed upon the upper layer or surface of the supply of coal or other material to be sampled. The manually operable control handle 12b of the hydraulic motor 12 is then operated to actuate motor 12 which in turn produces rotation of shaft 2 and auger blade 4, 4a within and externally of the tube 1. Samples of the material to be tested are thus acquired by the blade portion extending beyond the open end 1a of tube 1. The sample size thus acquired is controlled by the space between the outer surface of shaft end portion 5 and the inner diameter of the opening 1a of tube 1. Similarly, the height or thickness of such samples is controlled by the space between adjacent, axially aligned portions of auger blade segment 4a. Since the pitch and. spacing between such adjacent blade portions is increased beyond the blade portion 4a, it will be understood that any sample particle acquired by the auger blade portion 4a, and thus delivered into the open end 1a of tube 1, -will ilow easily through the tube 1 without jamming.

The auger portion extending beyond tube 1 serves to dig into the material to be sampled, drawing the sampling assembly thereinto. The larger diameter blade segment indicate at 4b insures the formation of a path or channel sucient to permit free passage of tube 1 and the protectionv of the open end 1a thereof as the tube 1 moves deeper into the material to be sampled.

The sample particles are thus conveyed through the tube 1 and expelled outwardly through the openings circumferentially spaced about and beyond the edge 1b of tube 1 and thus through the openings 15 in the hoppers 13 for collection within said hoppers.

' Thev penetration of the material to be sampled can be controlled by holding the assembly thereagainst, the

samples thus including only material from levels or layers penetrated. When sufcient samples have been thus collected within the hoppers |13, the same may be easily and simply removed from the tube 1 by disengagement of lock means 21, 22 and removal of the hoppers 13 from the tube 1.- If desired, the removed hopper may be replaced with a fresh empty hopper and the operation reinstituted to acquire additional samples from adjacent or lower locations within the material. The hoppers 13 are then taken to a laboratory or other suitable location, at which point the samples present therein are removed for such further treatment and testing as may be desired.

There is claimed:

1. A sampling assembly comprising an elongated, hol low, tubuar member, an auger extending rotatably through and beyond one end of said member, a support carried entirely by and beyond the opposite end of said 40 tubular member, driving means carried entirely on said support and having a driving connection with said auger, and hopper means removably carried entirely by said support and positioned to receive materials conveyed through and beyond said opposite end of said tubular member by said auger, said hopper means comprising a. plurality of hopper members circumferentially spaced about and removably carried by said tubular member.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a plurality of circumferentially'spaced, radially disposed bar members secured to the outer surfaceof said tubular member and extending beyondone end thereof, said support being secured to the outer ends of said bar members. Y l

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said hopper means comprises a plurality of hopper members, each of said hopper members being positioned between a pair of adjacent bar members and removably secured to said support.

4. The structure of claim l'wherein said auger includes a continuous auger blade having portions of closer spacing at andbeyond said one end of said tubular member, the remaining portionsof said blade within said `tubular member being of wider spacing whereby particles conveyed into said tubular member by said irst-named p0rtions will be conveyed to said hopper means without jamming.A

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said hopper means includes a hopper member having anl arcuate end wall, a pairvof Vside walls diverging from said end wall, an opposite end wall joining said sidewalls and an opening positionedin said arcuate end wall to receive sample material from the tubular member. v

References Cited YUNITED STATES PATENTS LOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner. DANIEL M. YASICH, Assistant Examiner. 

